The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York

The Metropolitan Museum of Art, also known as The Met, is the largest museum in New York City. As Paris has the Louvre, London the British Museum, and Amsterdam the Rijksmuseum, New York has The Met. The Metropolitan Museum of Art is housed in a majestic building (who doesn’t know those famous steps?) and has a very broad collection that represents 5,000 years of human creativity.

Buy your Metropolitan Museum of Art tickets with optional guided tour here

Interesting Exhibits at the Met Museum

The Met has a lot to offer, it has so much that it is advisable to make a list in advance of what you would like to see. The museum is so large that aimlessly walking around makes little sense. You enter through the already impressive central hall of the museum, the Great Hall. I recommend everyone, even non-art enthusiasts like me, to visit the Egyptian Art Department (Gallery 100-138). You can even admire an Egyptian temple here.

The Charles Engelhard Court in the American Wing, with its glass ceiling and wishing fountain, is also worth a walkthrough. In addition, the section with works by Dutch painters from the Golden Age, including by Rembrandt, Hals and Vermeer, is special to visit. I also like to visit the Arms and Armour exhibition on the ground floor, where impressive swords and other historical weapons are exhibited.

British Exhibits at The Met

If you are a piano player, or you have an eye for detail, then I suggest paying a visit to the ‘Grand Pianoforte’. It is one of the most elaborately decorated instruments of the nineteenth century, so understandably it’s not possible to play a tune on it.

I also recommend taking a look at the ‘Armor Garniture’. If you know your House of Tudor from your House of Stuart, this armour will be of interest to you. It is believed to have been made for Henry VIII, the detail alone etched into the armour alone is worth admiring.

Eric’s Visit in 90 Minutes

Do you want to visit The Met, but you don’t want to spend half a day (or even longer) on it? If you would like to visit for around one and a half hours and see some of the highlights of the museum, I recommend that you first walk from The Great Hall to the Egyptian Art Department, with The Temple of Dendur at the end of the wing. Then, walk through the American Wing to the second floor, where you can view various well-known paintings at the galleries for European Paintings from the 13th to the early 20th century. You could end your visit with a drink at my favourite place in the museum: the rooftop terrace (open from May to October).

How to visit the Metropolitan

The Metropolitan Museum of Art is a huge museum. Don’t try to see everything, because you will need several days! I recommend that you choose a number of highlights in advance and view them at your leisure. It is also smart to plan your visit early in the day. The Met receives millions of visitors each year, therefore it is always busy, but in the morning just after opening time, it is relatively quiet.

The Met Museum is located on Museum Mile, a street on the east side of Central Park with several museums together. The Guggenheim is also located here, so if you want to plan a day full of art, you can combine the two museums. The Met also has another location: The Met Cloisters. Along with your ticket for The Met, you also get access to this museum.

Practical Information

Large backpacks are not allowed in the museum, they must be left at the cloakroom. A small backpack may be brought inside, provided that it is worn on the front or side. Photography is permitted for personal use, but flashing, filming and the use of a selfie stick are prohibited.

• Opening hours:
  • Sunday – Tuesday 10:00 – 17:00
  • Wednesdays closed
  • Thursdays 10:00 – 17:00
  • Friday – Saturday 10:00 – 21:00
• Location: 1000 Fifth Avenue (at 82nd Street). You can take the green subway lines 4, 5 or 6 or the yellow line Q to 86 St. From there, you can either walk to the museum, which is about 10-15 minutes, or change to bus M86 to Fifth Avenue. Transferring between the subway and the bus is free, so you won’t pay extra for using the bus.
• Every visitor needs to buy a ticket. ‘Pay what you wish’ admission is only meant for New York residents.

Getting tickets for the Met

Buy your tickets online, so you can gain entrance quicker than if you would buy tickets on the spot. Entrance to The Met is not included in any New York discount pass.

Buy your Metropolitan Museum of Art tickets with optional guided tour here

Next to The Metropolitan Museum of Art, there are many more top New York museums to visit.